Chick Flick Quiz! Are You a True Fan?

In honour of my newly released romcom novel, I have decided to see who among you are true chick lit and chick flick aficionados. Can you, like my brother, quote Mean Girls word for word? Do you drag your boyfriends and husbands out to theaters to see your favourite Jennifer Aniston movie? Is Katherine Heigl your secret girl crush? How do you rank in the world of chick flicks?

I'm watching you... don't mess up!

 

Let's find out!

1. What movie is the following quote from?

"Do you believe in love at first sight? Nah, I betcha don't, you're probably too sensible for that. Or have you ever, like, seen somebody? And you knew that, if only that person really knew you, they would, well, they would of course dump the perfect model that they were with, and realize that you were the one that they wanted to, just, grow old with. Have you ever fallen in love with someone you haven't even talked to? Have you ever been so alone you spend the night confusing a man in a coma?"
          a) While You Were Sleeping
          b) How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days
          c) 13 Going On 30


2. Who is best friends with Kate Hudson's character in Bride Wars?
        a) Jennifer Garner
        b) Anne Hathaway
        c) Drew Barrymore


3. Which movie did Jennifer Aniston NOT star in?
       a) The Break Up
       b) Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
       c) Just Go With It


4. What book by Sophie Kinsella is the following quote from?
   
“There's genuine pain in Eric's eyes. And I feel a stab of guilt. But you can't stay with people because of guilt.” 

     a) Confessions of a Shopaholic
     b) Twenties Girl
     c) Remember Me?


5. Who is the author of newly released and five star rated novel 'Iced Romance'?
     a) Sophie Kinsella
     b) Meg Cabot
     c) Whitney Boyd


6. What novel is the following quote from?

"If I want to get over Todd, I’m definitely going to have to let go of all the hate I’ve been bottling up. And then there is the small fact that I really want David to be proud of me. And if he knew that I’m living my own real-life Carrie Underwood song, I know he’d think less of me.

"Jesica follows me into my apartment where we gather together all the pieces of the jersey, then carry them back to her place. She gets a bulky, ancient-looking sewing machine out of the closet by the door, and we kneel on the floor, doing our best to put the jersey back together. Every few minutes Jesica shoots me a sideways glance and mutters things like “Men who cheat should be shot,” “He’s lucky the jersey is the only thing you rip to shreds,” and “If I ever get my hands on him…” "

    a) Iced Romance by Whitney Boyd
    b) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
    c) Something Borrowed by Emily Griffen


7. Who said it?

"Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be”

   a) Elizabeth Gilbert, author of 'Eat, Pray, Love'
   b) Jennifer Weiner, author of 'Certain Girls'
   c) Helen Fielding, author of 'Bridget Jones' Diary'

8. What Sandra Bullock movie is the following quote from?

Margaret Tate: "What am I allergic to?"
Andrew Paxton: "Pine nuts, and the full spectrum of human emotion."

    a) The Proposal
    b) Miss Congeniality
    c) Hope Floats

9. What classic novel and film have the unlikeable yet tough as nails Scarlett O'Hara as the heroine?

   a) Gone With The Wind
   b) Valentine's Day
   c) A Walk To Remember

10. What chick flick takes Cinderella back to France with Drew Barrymore as the beautiful, intelligent heroine?

   a) My Fair Lady
   b) Ever After
   c) A Cinderella Story

Bonus... for one extra point...: Who is your favourite chick lit or chick flick heroine of all time?


Answers: 1-a, 2-b, 3-b, 4-c, 5-c, 6-a, 7-a, 8-a, 9-a, 10-b

So, how'd you do?

1-5 points = You need a manicure, a girlfriend and a subscription to People magazine, because you need help!

6-8 points = Meh, you're doing okay, but you definitely need to ask Santa for a new chick lit novel for Christmas. Time to brush up!

9-10 points = You're on fire, girlfriend! Keep reading and watching and dreaming and Prince Charming will be waiting for you right around the corner. Possibly on a white horse. Or something.

Book Review - ICED ROMANCE

Another great review of ICED ROMANCE just came in! 5 out of 5 stars rated and when my mom read it to my dad, he said "Wow. This makes me want to read it." For those of you who know my Dad, he's a hunter, he-man, manly-man type. And even he wants to read a chick lit book. Ha!

Here's the review:

Whitney Boyd has done it again! In her second novel, "Iced Romance", due out November 27th, she has written a fun, interesting, clean story about what true love and friendship are all about. Her characters are quirky but quintessential examples of people we all know. The most difficult aspect of reading this book is finding the will-power to put it down until the very last page has been turned.

 

Kennedy Carter has grown up wealthy and pampered, but totally without the love of family and friends that she longs for. When she meets Todd, a soon-to-be NHL superstar, she thinks she has finally come home. They become engaged and the years pass by, but Todd refuses to commit to anything besides his game and his fans. When it finally is revealed that Todd has been involved with multiple women behind Kennedy's back and that he doesn't feel an iota of remorse, Kennedy wakes up and realizes she needs to move on and find a life of her own.

 

She runs to Florida to try and re-boot her life, but finds that moving on is one thing, but forgiving and forgetting is quite another. Never having had to look after herself before, she does an admirable job of finding a place to live and a job. But dealing with cockroaches and a waitress' sore feet are just a few of the problems that arise. Happily she meets a bevy of new friends, and even a love-interest, who help her adjust to life as a plebeian. The trouble is, Todd just won't skate off into the sunset, and Kennedy's new life is soon threatened.

 

If you are looking for a perfect stocking-stuffer or a gift for the consummate reader in your life, male or female, "Iced Romance" is your answer.

 

 

 

You can pre-order the book on Amazon (where it is also available as a kindle) or you can find it at Barnes and Noble. For a very limited time the paperback novel is available for only $9.38!! So get it while you can!

 

xox

Book Review - ICED ROMANCE

So the first review of ICED ROMANCE pre-release is back! Drum roll, please!

"As a past reader and even writer of the chick-lit genre, lately I've sort of been slowly moving on to other genres. I haven't been interested in reading chick-lit--don't want to write it. When Whitney asked me to read and review her novel I agreed without knowing what kind of books she writes. She emailed me the PDF and it came one evening while I was finishing up preparing supper. My daughter was still out for her run so I decided to download the galley on my iPad and maybe read the first page or two to see if I thought I was going to like the book. Did I like it? Okay, so I ended up reading the entire first chapter while standing in the kitchen. Then I couldn't wait to get back to the story again later in the evening.

Now, I'm a fairly busy person; a single mom during the week days, a novelist myself and all that goes along with that, early-morning seminary teacher, chauffer, keeper of the lawn and garden, etc, blah, blah, blah . . . So it usually takes me a week, give or take, to complete a novel. I read this one in less than three days.

The writing is fun, witty and seamless. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. I especially enjoyed the list of possible names Kennedy made to call her ex-fiancé, Todd, when/if she saw him again. Kennedy is a girl born to parents of means and then engaged to a wealthy hockey player, so it is fun to see how naive she is to the way the rest of us live. Wearing heels to work on her first day as a waitress--rookie mistake. And David, her love interest, he is sexy, strong and compassionate--I want one ☺

But this novel isn't all silliness and fun. The author shows Kennedy going through a great deal of growth as she struggles to separate herself from the shallow life she's always known. As the story unfolds, Kennedy slowly begins to find her true self as she trades in her designer clothes, caviar and champagne for real friends who offer her loyalty and love.

This is a great book for teens and grown-ups alike. Anyone who wants a fun, quick read that also has a deeper meaning. That finding true happiness in life is not about the things or status of people we surround ourselves with, but the people in our lives who truly care about us. "

- Julie N. Ford, Author 

 Excited yet!?! It's being released on Novelber 27th, but you can pre-order your copy now on Amazon, or buy a pre-release kindle version! Spread the word!

Does Honesty Have a Price?

We watched last night's Amazing Race episode where the teams head off to Turkey. They started off at a travel agency, where the teams found they'd be all together on the flight. Then one of the teams (James and Abba) dropped their wad of cash as they exited the room. Two other teams noticed the cash right away and before you could say "Good Samaritan", the "Twinnies" had pocketed the money and were giggling about how screwed James and Abba would be when they noticed it.

 

Even worse, they laughingly showed the money to another team, the cute little cheerleader and her boy toy from Texas, Trey and Lexi. Trey seemed to disapprove, but Lexi agreed that it was great after the "Twinnies" said that they would split the money with them. James and Abba noticed about two seconds later that their money was missing. But, they couldn't go back and find it because it was gone. They ended up talking to locals in Bangladesh, asking politely if anyone could spare some money to help. The local people gave them enough and they were back in the race.

 

There are so many things wrong with this story...

 

Yes, this is a race around the world for a million dollar prize. Yes, competition is key. Still, doesn't honesty matter despite the potential payday?

 

Sure, it was only about $100... BUT this was the $100 James and Abba needed to leave Bangladesh and to continue on the race. 

 

It is, simply put, a very cheap way to try to get ahead in the race. It wasn't their money. They knew whose money it was. And yet they took it. They could have left it there. They could have returned it to James and Abba. They could have even taken it and given it to a random homeless guy or something. But instead they just kept it.

 

Let's pretend for a second that this isn't a race for one million dollars. Let's say you are walking to work and you see a person ahead of you drop a wad of cash. ABSOLUTELY the honest thing is to return it to them. Or, at the very least, bring it to the police station. There is no scenario where it would be okay to keep it.

 

So why in the world is it "okay" for these racers to keep the money. I would not sell my integrity for one million dollars. I just wouldn't. I don't cheat. I don't lie. I never will.

 

"Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving." (James Faust)

 

I read a story once that I thought was interesting. In 1942 James Faust, a member of the United States Army Air Corps, had applied for Officer's Candidate School. At his interview, he was asked a number of questions regarding more than just his qualifications. His beliefs were called into question too. He was asked if he prayed, if he smoked or drank. Finally he was asked the following, and I quote, "In times of war, should not the moral code be relaxed? Does not the stress of battle justify men in doing things that they would not do when at home under normal situations?” [He] recognized that here was a chance perhaps to make some points and look broad-minded. [He] suspected that the men who were asking this question did not live by the standards that [he] had been taught. The thought flashed through [his]mind that perhaps [he] could say that [he] had [his] own beliefs, but [he] did not wish to impose them on others. But there seemed to flash before [his]mind the faces of the many people [he respected]. In the end [he] simply said, “I do not believe there is a double standard of morality.” End quote. 

 

There shouldn't be a double standard of honesty. Right is always right and wrong is always wrong, regardless of the price.

 

Did you watch this episode? What did you think?

 



Dealing With Negative Reviews

As an author and a Christian, my purpose in writing was to create a clean, fun, flirty chick lit book that would appeal to both religious and non-religious audiences. I wanted my books to be realistic to life, but not to have excessive bad language, explicit sex scenes or too anything crude or vulgar. At the same time, I knew it couldn't be a book that was all butterflies and roses. Life does not have people walking around saying "darn" and smiling in every situation. So, I wrote my books. I made them as clean as I could, but still realistic. Words like "crap" and "freaking" are words that I occasionally use and do not find offensive. Basically I kept everything PG according to my moral code.

 

 

Then the reviews started coming. There are three types of reviews, for those who aren't familiar with it. The majority were super positive (which I love!). There were a few super negative (which make me cry. Seriously), and then here and there a couple of the blah in between reviews where they say "It was a good book, but meh." Now, here's where this gets interesting. The negative reviews I received were written by both religious and non-religous people. The religious people expected the book to be more Christian-ish. They didn't like the border-line crude language in parts, nor the implication that one of the secondary characters in my Hollywood novel was gay. They felt that I should have made the main character a religious zealot in every word and thought. On the other hand, the non-religious commentors wanted the book to be more "Fifty Shades of Grey". They wanted the characters to do more than make out. They wanted a book like hundreds of other romance novels out there.

 

 

I read these reviews and felt conflicted. Was I right in my purpose? I wrote a clean, fun, flirty book that alot of people, regardless of their religious views, love. But why then were there a few people that strongly disliked it?

 

It took a little while, but finally I had an epiphany... I cannot please everyone. Simple. As much as I want to be the most beloved author in the world, that is impossible. Even authors who have sold millions of copies of their novels, like Stephenie Meyers, Sophie Kinsella or J.K Rowling, have received negative reviews... I know... I looked them up on Amazon! There are some downright hateful things people have written to these authors that I really respect.

So what's the moral of this story? Write your book. Figure out who you want your audience to be. And then be proud. You created something that nobody else could have created!

 

As President Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Have a postive day, all!

 

xox

Grateful for WiDo Publishing...

Here is a little thank you blog post to WiDo Publishing. My editor sent me an email earlier, letting me know that my second romantic comedy / chick lit novel, Iced Romance, will be released EARLY! November 27, 2012 (Happy Birthday, Dad!) to be exact. I am so excited!

WiDo is an amazing publishing house. When there are so many thousands of self-published novels out there, it feels so darn good to be published by an actual publishing house. They saw the potential in my manuscripts, they believed enough in my books to accept them despite me being a no-name, unpublished, wanna-be author, and then they edited the heck out of them and made my books awesome!

 

Thank you, WiDo, for having the best editors (I'm looking at you, Karen!), the best cover artists (seriously, have you seen Iced's cover art!?!) and actually caring about my input. You are the best and I am very grateful for you today!

And to everyone reading this post, do WiDo a favour, and go out and buy my current novel, Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It, (or any of the other awesome titles published by WiDo - you can find them through WiDo's website). Seriously. In a society dominated by massive corporations, it's always nice to support the little guy, especially when the little guy gives a seriously stellar quality of product!

Big Reveal... the cover art for ICED ROMANCE!

Drum roll, please!

The cover art for my new novel ICED ROMANCE is here and I am in love! I finished what is probably my last round of edits this weekend for it, and I have to admit, this book is great! Much, much better than my first one! I really think I have improved as a writer and and editee (is that a word?). My editor must like me alot more on this book because I get that she is a genius and just trying to make my book that much more fun and readable.

Anyway... back to the cover art! I need your help! We have it down to two covers... and I would love your thoughts between the two. They are exactly the same, except cover 1 has a different dress and shoes than cover 2.

What do you think?








Cover 1: Dress more understated and hesitant, less glam.


Cover 2: Fabulousness embodied in the dress and shoes.


 

 

So... which is your favourite? I prefer the second one...I think. But, of course, this changes on a daily basis. :) Hourly. Minutely. I love both.

Thoughts?

ICED ROMANCE will be out in February 2013! Here is a bit about it!

Kennedy Carter has the perfect life. It includes an engagement to an NHL celebrity All-star, a
Vera Wang wedding dress, and more money than she could ever spend. But when she learns that her fiance Todd is cheating on her, she decides to leave the glamour and glitz behind.

She escapes to Orlando, Florida with a plan to rebuild her life while staying hidden from a country obsessed with celebrity scandals. The real world however, is tougher than she expected.Suddenly Kennedy has to deal with cockroaches, creepy alarm salesmen, and waiting tables... along with a gorgeous new love interest, David.

But what happens when the past refuses to stay hidden? When the truth of Kennedy’s background catches up to her, she must finally decide who she is, what she wants and where she
really belongs.

Book Review - LOCKED WITHIN by Paul Anthony Shortt

LOCKED WITHIN by Paul Anthony Shortt is set for release in November 2012, and I cannot wait for it to come out! This was an absolute thriller and kept me glued to the pages until the end!

I'm not gonna lie... I started the book on a Sunday afternoon when my husband and baby were having a nap, and I figured I would read for a half hour or so. Um... yeah right. When I finally came up for air, it was three hours later and then I was hooked and had to keep reading until I finished. I'm a bit of an addict that way.

 

What I loved about this book was that it is set in present day New York. You can smell the smells of New York (yummy street vendors!) and really lose yourself in the realism of it. And then, out of nowhere, it becomes a supernatural world. Now, I'm not talking Twilight... this is much more of a Vampire Diaries type book... darker, more realistic and emotional. It deals with vampires, soul eaters, witches and necromancers without losing sight of what it is to be lonely or afraid or, simply put, mortal. The main character, Nathan, struggles to maintain a dying relationship while also coming into his own and dealing with family issues, friendships and betrayals and having to save NewYork City from certain ruin.

Nathan was a solid character to get behind. He had flaws, and yet he overcame them. He admitted his mistakes. He became someone stronger and better throughout the course of the novel. His girlfriend, best friend and even the villains were also absolutely believable, right to the very last scene.

This is a must-read for anyone who calls themselves a magical fantasy fan. A full 5 out of 5 stars and I an excited to read more from Shortt!

 

Cerulean Isle Book Review

Cerulean Isle by GM Browning is the best historical action novel I've read in years! Is that even a genre? Historical fiction doesn't seem to cut it because it is far too fast paced and exciting to be dubbed a 'history' book. It's not fantasy, even though there are a few elements of that. I don't even know what to call it. But it's basically a Pirates of the Caribbean  in book form, only with a ruthless, bloodthirsty captain instead of Johnny Depp. Yeah. It's that good.

So, what's it about?

Kidnapped as a boy and kept as a slave on a pirate ship, young Jacob dreams of freedom, and of discovering the fabled island of the Mer people. With fellow shipmate Grant, Jacob escapes and finds refuge in Granada. But stories of Cerulean Isle, land of the Merfolk, continue to haunt him. One day a stranger appears, forcing Jacob and Grant to confront their past. They must embark on a dangerous voyage to flee from the pirates that seek their lives. In the process, Jacob at last discovers the truth behind legendary Cerulean Isle.
I don't usually go out of my way to read books that aren't 'chick lit'... but I grabbed this one because it was written by a fellow author at the same publishing house that published my books. Author comraderie, you know? That's why I bought it and kept it on my shelf for a while as I read the latest Sophie Kinsella book instead. Then, one night when I couldn't sleep, I picked it up and started to read it, hoping that a chapter or two would put me out. Ha. Nice try. Instead, I was up until 1:00 am. I could not put it down. And now, I will recommend this book to the world. Check it out! Now! Do it! This book is awesome.

It is a bit bloody at times, as there is killing and death. But it's pirates, so that's expected, and the author does a fine job of making it realistic without being too detailed or gross. The language is clean yet not corny. You feel like you are there. The action is non stop, there are twists and turns all along that keep you turning pages. Basically, it deserves to be read.

5 out of 5 stars! Can't wait for the next one by Browning!

***

In other WiDo Publishing news, my new novel, due out in a few months, is going to the copy edit right away! I will keep you all posted as soon as I have a title and release date!

And, my current novel, Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It, has received yet another awesome review! Here it is:

This is the best, cute, fun, light read I have read in so long. Whitney Boyd's writing reminds me of a Canadian Sophie Kinsella, but with a smart, main character you can relate to and want to cheer for. Mikayla, the lead character, is from Calgary, Alberta and going to U of C (WAHOO for Calgary!) when she is discovered by an agent. Record deals and grammy nominations and a move to L.A. are now part of her life, but she doesn't have many people she can trust to love her for who she is instead of the fame. This is a girl who enjoys the lifestyle along with the spotlight, but also enjoys being REAL and wearing comfy sweat pants and being able to shop without the paparazzi. What more could a normal girl from Canada dream of? A Man.

I appreciate the authors basing the character out of Calgary, without making fun of uber Canadian-isms. She likes hockey, but doesn't get made fun of for her accent or mounties, or any other uncommon canadian jokes.

Honestly, I think this book was one of the best light hearted books I have read in a long time. Buy it now! You will thank me when you finish it.

 

Thanks, Brooke! If ya'll haven't read it, listen to Brooke... and read it now! :)

Hollywood Screenwriters Take Note! Your next Blockbuster is.....

Attention all Hollywood screenwriters! If you are looking for the next big blockbuster chick flick, you are in luck! Your search is over! Take note right now. Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It is exactly what your viewing public will pay to see!

Basically, it's a modern day Notting Hill, told from the celebrity's perspective. Hooked already? You should be. There are secrets, lies, break ups, psychotic managers, cheating ex boyfriends and a quirky best friend with questionable fashion taste. It's the perfect book to make into a movie.

Even better? I already have my dream cast selected. Amazing, right?

Emma Roberts to play Mikayla Rivers, pop star and female Justin Bieber.  Blonde, sweet, in too deep and trying to come up for air. Gets caught up in all the lies and secrets and has to find a way out.

 

Joseph Gordon Leavitt to play Jordan Baker. Gorgeous law student at UCLA, he's the first genuine person Mikayla's found in Hollywood. Only problem? He hates the materialistic attitude found in LA. Mikayla doesn't think he'll be too impressed if he finds out her career choice. So the secrets start building up...

 

Blake Lively  to play Cheryl, slightly crazy, plastic surgery addict and also Mikayla's manager. So obsessed with making it in Hollywood that she is willing to betray anyone to get there. Blake could defintely channel her inner diva to make this part shine.

 

Toby Hemingway  to play Kurt. Kurt is Mikayla's personal trainer slash best friend. He loves shopping, trying on her clothes, and helping her out with her relationship problems. Kurt is loyal to a fault, even though he can also be pointed and catty with great one liners when he needs to be.

 

Chace Crawford  to play Matt, the cheating ex boyfriend and bad boy, intent on getting back into Mikayla's life now that she is famous... even if it means destroying her relationship with Jordan in the process. Chace definitely has the bad boy air about him that would make him ideal for this part.

 

 

Not to mention, there are so many star studded celebrity sightings in this book, it would make the movie lots of fun. With people from Nick Lachey, Kim Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan, to Ellen Degeneres, Ryan Seacrest and David Letterman, this is like the Valentine's Day  movie only with an actual plot.

 

There you have it. You can thank me later, Hollywood. :)

 

xox

I've Got Your Number - Book Review

I hate having to buy a book in hard cover, except for the John Grisham ones that line my bookshelf and make me feel smarter for having them there. Normally, when forced to buy a hard cover book because a) they haven't released the soft cover ones yet and I am impatient, or b) they are out of the soft covered ones, I always feels like I am wasting my money. Super frustrating.

So anyway... Stephen bought me a hard covered copy of Sophie Kinsella's newest book, I've Got Your Number,  for our anniversary gift... and I would buy it again. And again. All in hard cover. Because this book is that good.

Seriously.

 

What's it about?

Poppy Wyatt is about to marry her dream guy, Magnus Tavish, but out of nowhere, her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. She loses her family heirloom engagement ring in a hotel fire drill and, in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life. Soon a relationship develops between the two as they struggle to sort out their lives, making a bit of an intrusive mess in the others while they are at it.

This book was brilliant. Poppy was the most intelligent and sweet heroine I've met in a long time. She was spunky, yet kind, intelligent, yet humble. Stephen gave me the book at 1:00 this afternoon and by 5:30 I was done. I could not put the book down. I only wish it would have been longer.... :)

I thought at first glance that it would be a bit predictable. Sophie Kinsella, while one of my absolute favourite authors, usually has a bit of a formula in her books, but this one kept me guessing. I loved the ending. I loved the beginning. I was captivated from page one.

The book was clean, uplifting and pure enjoyment. 5 out of 5 stars, although I would give it more if I could!

xox

PS - After you've read this excellent book, read another that, according to one reviewer, is "Canada's answer to Sophie Kinsella", with "characters that are funny, fresh, sometimes flawed, but always believable." Check out this summer's hottest summer novel,  Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It today!



Book Review - Roxanne in La La Land

Just finished a chick lit-esq book, Roxanne in La La Land, by L.A. DeVaul and figured I'd scribble down a quick review of it.

Roxanne is the main character, eighteen and heading to LA to become the "Madonna of the acting world". Only problem? She can't make an audition to save her life. So a coworker at the clothing shop tells her to try modelling... so she does, just to earn some money while waiting for her big break. Suddenly she's a sought-after model and is jetting off to Fashion Week in New York where she learns that her churchy, good girl image may have to be thrown out the window. Is it worth it?

Over all, it is an interesting book. I read it in two days, but it wasn't a keep-me-up-until-3-am type book. The writing style was a bit all over the place (it jumped from day to day, from one physical location to the next quite abruptly) and some of the language was a bit foreign to what I or my friends would say in daily speech. (Example, I think the last time I heard the word "nincompoop" was by my mother... which is fine... but she's not an 18 year old, you know?)

The book was clean. There were some profound thoughts every now and again. I laughed in a few spots. And there was a good overall moral. The ending was abrupt and totally came out of nowhere (not a hug fan of how it ended) but it was enjoyable.

Would I read it again? Probably not. Am I glad I read it though? Absolutely. It's quick, it's fun and it was a nice look at what happens to a good girl in the world of high fashion. I give it a 4 star rating out of 5. Well done!

PS- If you're in the mood for another chick lit novel about a popstar who gets caught in a love triangle with secrets, betrayal and a psychotic manager and fashion-less best friend, check out the summer's hottest novel, Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It.

Book Review - The Soul Seekers

The Soul Seekers by Amy Saia was one of the most intriguing books I've read in a while. Set to be released in August, this book confused me, captivated me and kept me turning the pages until the very end. I definitely will recommed this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of a guessing game. 

So what's it about?  Emma Shay, a seventeen year old girl with a bit of a psychic ability, moves to Indiana with her mom after her dad dies. It's a small, boring town, she doesn't know anyone and she's grieving the loss of her father. So, she gets a job at the local library where she meets him. William. The most gorgeous, interesting guy she's ever met. And mysterious. Emma wants noting more than to meet him.  When she finally does, she discovers that he is being hunted by the Soul Seekers, a cultish religion that steals souls to gain their own power. William, no longer mortal, but not dead, is on their list. And so is Emma.

 

Set in Southern Indiana during the summer of 1979, The Soul Seekers reminded me of books like Twilight by Stephenie Meyers or any of Lois Duncan's thrillers. It had a paranormal feel, but was full of normal emotions and elements, like romance, betrayal and jealousy.

 

And in the end, it made me cry... both happy tears and a few sad ones.

 

I definitely recommend this book. Be sure and check it out when it's released!

 

xoxo

 

PS- while you wait for this new book to come out, feel free to read a fun, fab and flirty romantic comedy, also published by WiDo Publishing. Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It is the hottest book of the summer and you definitely don't want to miss it!

 

Have a great day, all!

Book Review - When In Rome

I received When In Rome by Gemma Townley for a birthday gift by my sister in law. I had never heard of the author, but I liked the cover, so I was all for it. (I'm a sucker for silly, chicklit cover art...). Anyhoo, I absolutely loved this book! Definitely a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars!




So what's it about? Georgie Beauchamp has this dream of running into her ex boyfriend Mike who dumped her a few years ago. It's going to be this surreal, she-looks-gorgeous-but-he's-lying-in-the-gutter moment and it'll be awesome. However, when she finally does see him again, she's dressed in unglamorous sweats and carrying a curtain rod down the street, while Mike is driving an expensive sports car and looking better than Brad Pitt at the Oscars. She longs to have the glamorous life Mike can offer—and starts to think that he might want her back in his armsm despite her being happy with her new, solid, dependable boyfriend, David.

Mike starts emailing and calling. David doesn't want her to have anything todo with Mike, not even as friends. David is working all the time, Mike is flirty, and invites her to jet off to Rome with him for a weekend. Georgie is torn and has to decide between them.

It is in some ways a very typical chick lit novel. There is the love triangle, the bad decisions that become good ones, a whole lot of worrying about if your dress is ok, and the token best friend (in this case, it's more of the mother that comes to the rescue though). Georgie is the typical heroine who you relate to, laugh with, cringe with and want to shake when she does stupid things. But she is likeable, fun and I felt for her the whole way.

I think anyone who has ever been dumped would really enjoy this book. It captures the resentment for her ex boyfriend, but also the what-if mentality. What if he hadn't dumped me? What if he is sorry? What if we can make it again?

There was a bit of language (I don't mind mild language, but this one dropped the old f-bomb a few times), but other than that it was a good, clean read. And the language that was used was used appropriately, by people that would use that language and anything else might seem far fetched, if that makes sense.

Definitely recommend this one! Thanks, Monica, for the gift!

PS - For another fun, uplifting, 5-star novel, immerse yourself into Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It. It's the perfect summer beach read, and will keep you turning pages right to the end!

What does a Mormon look like?

There has been alot said about Mormons in recent days in various media outlets. With Mitt Romney's campaign, Jef Holm being Emily's probable choice in The Bachelorette, and many other such stories, people have been saying alot of crazy, unfounded and bizarre things about Mormons. As I've read different comment sections on these articles, I've thought it sad how many hateful and untrue comments are made about this church.

And it's made me think. Would you try to understand what Muslims believe by asking a Catholic? Would you find out about Baptists through a Jew? Of course not! So instead of listening to non-Mormons to figure out what Mormons believe, how about you look at a Mormon?

So... this is me clearing it up as best I can... by telling you about me.

I am 26 years old, a graduate from the University of Calgary and a People magazine addict. I am a runner, training for a half marathon in the fall. I am blonde by bottle, red-head by birth. I have a baby who sounds like a police siren, a husband who is the best looking accountant in the world, and a dog who follows me around the house spastically. I am a published author, with two chicklit novels to my name. I believe in Jesus Christ, in God the Father and in the Holy Ghost. I am 100% Christian. I love the Bible and read it daily. I also love the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. I respect everyone's right to worship as they see fit. I don't drink alcohol or smoke because I choose not to. I am slightly dependent on Cadbury mini eggs and Lindor truffles. I enjoy watching good TV shows. I like everything from The Bachelor and Hell's Kitchen to Lost and Stargate SG-1. I don't swear because language tells alot about one's character. I speak Spanish. One day I will live in Spain. I HAVE LIVED IN UTAH, IDAHO AND FLORIDA. I LOVED ALL THREE PLACES, BUT DEEP DOWN, I AM AN ALBERTA GIRL THROUGH AND THROUGH. I have friends who are gay. I love them and respect that everyone has the right to choose how they will live their lives. I go to church every Sunday. I volunteer with the youth program at church and love working with those girls. They are hilarious. My parents taught me about God and Jesus since I was young. I, however, had to choose for myself if I believed what they taught me. So I studied and prayed and now know it is truth. I don't think that being intellectual and being religious are mutually exclusive. Politically, I usually vote Liberal. I love to cook, like to do dishes, but can't keep a plant alive to save my life. My garden is a disaster. I wear contacts. I hate shopping. I wanted to be Britney Spears when I was 13. I still sort of do.  

I am a Mormon. Who are you? 


Mormonism has changed my life and given me continual peace and joy. You are welcome to learn more at www.mormon.org if you wish to see more about what Mormons actually believe instead of relying on things you 'might have heard once'...


For a free copy of The Book of Mormon, which is a volume of holy, ancient scripture, comparable to The Bible, you can go here.

How to get a Literary Agent in Two Murders or Less - Book Review

How to get a Literary Agent in Two Murders or Less by Ellie Burmeister. 5 out of 5 stars.

This was a book that I could not put down. I started reading it last night and kept going because it was captivating. At first it was just that I could relate to the main character. Amanda Anderson is an aspiring novelist, but is finding it difficult to find a literary agent. I get that. It's one thing to write a book, it's a whole other ballgame to get that book published by a reputable publishing company. So I felt for Amanda. She goes to a writer's conference to find an agent, and then, one thing leads to another, and she ends up eloping with a bestselling writer Jonny Goodsnuff. She knows nothing about him except that Jonny Goodsnuff is his legal name but not the name he was born with, but decides her life is pretty crappy to begin with, so why not.

Soon, Amanda is trapped in a farce of a marriage. Jonny looks good on paper, but that's where it ends. He is jealous, makes her sign a draconian prenup, dotes on his (older than Amanda) daughters who treat Amanda terribly, and criticises Amanda's friends to their faces. Then, a murder occurs, Amanda is the suspect, and the only person on her side is Jonny's 'sleazy' agent, Stonewall.

And through it all, she just wants her books to find a publisher!

By the middle of the book, I was hooked. The fairy tale life that Amanda found at the beginning turned into a nightmare. Things happened so fast, one leading to another and it became a book I could not put down. Kind of a cross between chick lit and drama, this book was solid, a clean read and quite enjoyable.

5 out of 5 stars! :)

PS - If you are interested in similar book about a young girl pursuing her dreams and getting carried away with them, be sure to read  Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It, the story of Mikayla Rivers who, overnight, almost, finds herself the new Justin Bieber, America's favourite popstar. She is forced to deal with her own stardom, along with a dirty, rotten, cheating ex boyfriend, a psychotic and fame hungry manager, and the new love of her life, who she hasn't told who she is. And he won't be too thrilled if he finds out. One lie turns into a huge mess in this fast, fun, summer novel! :)

The Cloak - Book Review

I read the best book last week! Seriously. The Cloak by James Gough is like a new Harry Potter and I really enjoyed it! A full 5 out of 5 stars!

I have been wanting a good, clean, fun book for a while, and yet most of the books I read were not as clean as I hoped. I heard about this one through my publisher, as James Gough is one of their fellow authors, and to be honest, that is the only reason I started reading it. Usually YA fantasy books aren't my thing.

But the minute I started reading, I was hooked! Great characters, thoroughly believable storyline, and lots of twists and turns. Will Tuttle, the protagonist, had a sad, lonely childhood. Allergic to everything that wasn't manufactured before 1960, he lives his life in a latex bubble. Bland, 50 year old spam would probably make me alot more angry at life than Will is in the book. He is easy going, timid and everything you would expect a boy like him to be.

Then, all of a sudden, his entire life changes, He sees things... creatures that only exist in fairytales and in Greek mythology. Centaurs, men with beaks and feathers, half girl, half bat creatures. And they are shocked to find out that Will can see them. They are, after all, supposed to be cloaked with a magic shield to keep them out of sight.

And, as Will enters this world, his own world changes forever as he becomes hunted by those who wish to silence him.

This was a joy to read. I fully recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed Harry Potter, Twilight or any other book bathed in legend. Excellent read.

PS - If you are interested in another YA book from WiDo Publishing, check out Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It,  the story of Mikayla Rivers who, overnight, almost, finds herself the new Justin Bieber, America's favourite popstar. She is forced to deal with her own stardom, along with a dirty, rotten, cheating ex boyfriend, a psychotic and fame hungry manager, and the new love of her life, who she hasn't told who she is. And he won't be too thrilled if he finds out. One lie turns into a huge mess in this fast, fun, summer novel! :)



Falling Star - Book Review

Falling Star by Diana Dempsey was a decent book. It went from being captivating to blah and back again several times. Overall, I give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

I began this novel because I enjoyed other books by this author, but I found soon in that it wasn't in the same league as the other ones. This is Dempsey's debut novel, and, while it has an interesting plot, it was predictable, had poor grammatical errors and some wordy, pointless paragraphs. Additionally, there were several descriptive sex scenes that I ended up skipping over... no point in having them in there, and I prefer clean books.

 

 

So what's it about? Natalie Daniels’ husband just dumped her. Her boss is scheming to replace her because she is 40, which is too old in the anchor-woman world. The reporter that Natalie took under her wing to help with internship and career opportunities stabs Natalie in the back. And Natalie's agent, who she is falling in love with, is about to marry someone else.

 

 

The book is an excellent look at the world of TV... and showcases the difficulty that women face when pressured to look 20 perpetually, with cosmetic surgery and more. I found that none of the characters were the 'good guy', however. The protaganists cheated on their fiances, spread rumours and felt they were entitled to the good life without having to work to maintain it. The antaganists were equally unlikeable. That said, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. People are imperfect, and I enjoyed to a point how realistic the characters were.

 

 

The beginning was slow, but it sped up toward the end. Overall, it is a fun, flirty read, although I would recommend other Dempsey books over this one.

 

 

PS - If you'd like to read my debut novel, earning all 5 star reviews thus far on Amazon, click here!  It is a modern day Notting Hill with a celebrity desperately trying to hide her identity from the love of her life, while dealing with a scheming ex-boyfriend, a psychotic manager and trying not to get swept away in the Hollywood scene.

The Sholes Key - Book Review

The Sholes Key by Clarissa Draper. I give it a full 5 out of 5 stars!

To be honest, it's been a while since I've read anything other than John Grisham or chick lit... so I was a little hesistant to start this new release by Clarissa Draper. In fact, I probably wouldn't have even tried it if it wasn't published by WiDo, the same place that published my novel.

But... I read it... and...

I LOVED THIS BOOK! :)

I was reading it at night and managed to freak myself out so much that when I went to bed, I placed my baby on one side of me, made my husband go on the other, and put my dog at my feet, all to form a kind of protection around me.

Here's what it's about: All across London, single mothers are vanishing. Margaret Hill, mother of two, walked out of her house two months before, never seen again. A month later, Carrie-Anne Morgans takes her two-year-old son for a walk in the park and disappears leaving him alone in his stroller. Lorna McCauley leaves her London flat in the early hours of the morning to buy medicine for her sick child and disappears.

Newly promoted Detective Inspector Theo Blackwell is assigned the case of Lorna McCauley, which, on the outside seems to be a simple case of mid-life crisis and child abandonment.

Elsewhere in London, MI5 analyst, Sophia Evans, is working undercover to catch an animal rights group responsible for targeted bombings. As her case (and her personal life) fall to pieces, she receives a strange envelope in the mail. It contains a picture of Lorna McCauley s lifeless face along with a daunting code.

Now the police and MI5 are forced to work together to stop the murders, and Sophia must find her way into the terrifying mind of a serial killer.

This was a very captivating book. Right from the first chapter, it sucks you in and makes you keep turning the pages. It is like CSI only in book form. There was the right amount of tension, suspense and drama. I was kept guessing right to the last page. There was also a nice amount of code-breaking, which reminded me of The DaVinci Code in a way. The characters were unique, funny, sweet, jealous, everything that good characters need to be. There was a hint of romance (which I loved) and a ton of action.

My only complaint is that I had to read it very carefully, some parts I even had to go back and re-read because it got complicated with the codes. If you're looking for a light fluffy beach read, it's probably not for you. However, if you love a bit of mystery, I 100% recommend it!!

PS - if you do want a nice, fluffy beach read, check out TANNED, TONED AND TOTALLY FAKING IT. Mikayla Rivers is the perfect BFF for a hot summer day, as she tries to hide her mega-star identity from the love of her life while dealing with a cheating ex-boyfriend, a psychotic manager and meeting (among other famous faces) Ellen Degeneres, Nick Lachey, Kim Kardashian, Ryan Seacrest and David Letterman in the process. :) xox

Ms America and the Offing on Oahu - Book Review

Ms America and the Offing on Oahu by Diana Dempsey. 5 out of 5 stars

This book caught me off guard. I wasn't really sure what I was expecting, but it was a murder mystery mixed with chick lit characters and a Miss Congeniality setting with a Nancy Drew feel.

It starts out with the Ms America pageant, a beauty pageant for married women, which was refreshing in that they were alot more mature than most beauty queen book characters. Ms Ohio Happy Pennington is the last to see Ms California alive. During the broadcast, right before they announce the winner, Ms California tumbles over dead. The Honolulu PD lists Happy as one of their suspects. So, what can she do? Investigate on her own, with her roommate and Ms Congeniality trailing along to help.

I enjoyed this book. As an avid fan of Nancy Drew when I was a kid, I found the beauty contestant trio who were hacking computers, sneaking into mail rooms, interviewing suspects and breaking into hotel rooms to be a lovely look back at Nancy, George and Bess. The book had moments of humour, although I did not find it as laugh out loud funny as some of the official reviews claimed. The characters were both likeable and unlikeable but always realistic. Unlike Mary Higgins Clark books, where I can always guess the 'bad guy' about 3/4 of the way in, I was pleasently surprised by the who-dun-it in this book.

I'd recommend this book. It didn't keep me up at night turning pages, but it was fun. I will definitely have to check out what else this author has written.

PS - If chick lit without the murder mystery feel is more your cup of tea, try Tanned, where we have a major Justin Bieber-like celebrity trying to hide her identity from the love of her life while dealing with a cheating ex-boyfriend, a psychotic manager and meeting (among other famous faces) Ellen Degeneres, Nick Lachey, Kim Kardashian, Ryan Seacrest and David Letterman  in the process. :) xox

'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy - Book Review

'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy by Leslie Langtry earns a nice, fat 4 out of 5 stars.

Overall, it is an entertaining book with no basis in reality. To really enjoy it, you need to suspend all disbelief, which isn't that hard considering most books require this in some degree.

 

Gin Bombay is a single mother who hasn't had a date since her husband passed away. She's funny, irreverant and loves her pug puppy. Oh, plus she's an assassin. Gin actually comes from a line of career killers stretching back to ancient Greece, and, as part of this legacy, had no choice but to become one as well when she turned five. Yup. Five.

Anyhoo, her whole family shares her career with her, which leads them all to being very untrusting of one another. If my grandmother could kill a man with her bare hands, I suppose I'd have trust issues too.

Gin meets a new guy, a studly Aussie bodyguard. Things get complicated when she has to kill his client. And then introduce her daughter into the art of killing.

It's a fun book. A fast read that had me intruiged from the start. However, I did find that Gin's jokes and comments were all very one-sided... everything was assassination. It was funny at times, but also got old after a while. It was, as I mentioned, very unbelievable as far as story line and characters, kind of like a Marvel comicbook. That, however, also made it a fun escape from reality.

More comic/humour than chicklit, despite the token romance with the Aussie, I did enjoy it and recommend it to those with a warped sense of humour and an open mind. :)

xox

PS - If chicklit is more up your alley, you should try Tanned, a fun look at a celebrity trying to hide her identity from the love of her life while dealing with a cheating ex-boyfriend and a psychotic manager and meeting (among other famous faces) Ellen Degeneres in the process. :)

Eye Candy - Book Review

Eye Candy by Tera Lynn Childs is a pretty great book! I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.

Lydia Vanderwalk is a candy obsessed woman, who found out her fiance was cheating on her. Probably. She never actually confronted him, but for the past two years has been hiding from relationships and drowning her sorrows in more candy. Thank goodness she has a fast metabolism.

Anyway, she enlists the help of her best friend, a model talent agent, who sets her up with Phelps, a male model who definitely has more going for him than what initially meets the eye. She creates Phelps into her non-existent boyfriend in hopes of furthering her career and getting people off her back about dating. But then her ex comes back into her life, her feelings for her rent-a-boyfriend become much stronger, and career opportunities jump out of nowhere.

I loved this book! I was hooked from the first few pages and read it all in one night. It was funny, fresh and believable. However, the ending was pretty brutal... it was a choose your own ending. You know, turn to page xx if you want her to end up with boy number one. Turn to page yy if you want her to end up with boy number two. No book should be like that. It needs a definite, rock solid ending. Period. Because she definitely needed to end up with Phelps. No room for anything else. :)

My only other complaint with the book was a few of the phrases that Lydia would use. As a candy obsessed woman, she would exclaim "Hot Tamales" and nicknamed people after various candies, like Jawbreaker. It just seemed a little forced. I'm pretty much a chocolate-holic and even I don't go around calling people Hershey Kisses or Peppermint Patties or other chocolate names. That part was strange for me.

Anyhoo... take away the endings (plural) and the over the top exclamations, and you have a really entertaining book! Chick lit at it's finest.

If you haven't read this book, you should check it out on Amazon... it's a free kindle ebook right now, so get it while you can. (And, this author also has several other books out there, that, from their descriptions, sound pretty fun too. I'll have to read them when I get the chance!)

Finally, if you haven't read my newly released novel, Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It, you should check it out as well. Romcom fans will enjoy it as a fast, humourous read.

Cheers!

Love Unlisted - Book Review

Thanks everyone for taking part in the chick lit blog hop last week! I hope you had fun and found some new authors to read (cough, including me, cough). Ahem. Anyway, the winner of the ebook is Deb and I've emailed her with the details. Congrats, Deb! :)

Since it's still International Chick Lit Month, I've decided to write over the next week or so some book reviews of a few books I've been reading lately. Enjoy!

Love Unlisted by Stephanie Haddad. 4 stars out of 5
(You can get it as a free kindle ebook right now on Amazon, which is great too!)

Grace Shields is the pretty, slightly neurotic main character, a list maker whose life revolves entirely around what she writes down. Lists of her favorite Jackie Chan movies. Lists of her boyfriend’s Pros and Cons. Lists about her favorite places to get a pizza. Lists about her mother, lists about her best friend. It's a secret notebook, for her eyes only, and if people ever read the lists, she freaks.

Grace is struggling as a party-planner. You'd think with her millions of lists she'd be a shoe-in for event planner of the year or something, but she's not. She keeps making a mess of the different parties (fainting at one, catering with some questionable Italian goop for another, and falling in love with a guy who does NOT meet her list criteria at another).

This guy begins popping up everywhere. And he's not perfect. He's not the List Boyfriend with more Pros than Cons. And Grace doesn't really know how to deal with him.

It's a bit of a predictable book. Nothing kept me guessing, and I wasn't hooked from the beginning like I am with Sophie Kinsella books. However, it was a fun read. The characters were likeable and I could relate to most of them, having had the brutal boss at one point in my life, the wonderful best friend, the crazy relatives etc. It was clean, however, which I really liked, especially considering how huge the poorly written and fairly disgusting Fifty Shades of Grey books are right now.

I'd recommend it! :) Check it out and tell me what you think of it!

PS - Check out my novel Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It, so far with five 5-star reviews on Amazon! People are calling it "fun, witty, clean" and they "love the ending". Another person "thought it would be a predictable book, but the author kept making turns that kept me from putting the book down." Share the word, because this is the month for fun chick lit, and Tanned fits the bill. :)

CHICK LIT AUTHOR BLOG HOP 2012!

Hi everyone! Welcome to my part of the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop! For those of you who don't know much about it, there are 34 authors who are making this a week of chick lit! Simply hop around to the various blogs, leave a comment with your email to be entered to win a free ebook, take note of the italicised words, and enjoy yourself! At the end of the week, if you email all 34 italicised words to CLABlogHop@aol.com, you will be entered to win a $150 Sephora gift card. This contest is only open to people living in the United States, though, so sorry to my Canadian amigos.

Anyway, enough of the rules, let's get started! I am typing this with a squirmy 10 week old baby in my lap, who just puked on my arm a few moments ago. I will attempt to be witty. If I am not, you can blame it on the drool now finding it's way into my keyboard, right between the space bar and the alt button... and that's disgusting. Happy Mother's Day to me.

Alright, back on topic. Have you ever heard people say that chick lit is flat, or bland, or predictable? Or maybe that the heroines in the books are like a Barbie doll... tall, beautiful and completely dependent on their Ken doll, which, in all honesty, sets the women's rights movement back about fifty years? I've been told that. And it kind of annoys me. Feminism happened. Women are equals with men. And truly great chick lit doesn't dimish any of that.

Let me introduce (or reintroduce) you to the greatest chick lit heroines as found in my fav books!

Becky Bloomwood
We meet Becky in the world of the Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.  She is plucky, funny, and clever, despite having a small problem. I love chocolate. She loves shopping. I can totally relate to her. The greatest thing about Becky? Her unwavering loyalty. Once you are her friend, she will do anything for you. This is a great quality. Becky is not a lip-biting, timid, spineless woman. She is vibrant. She is tough. She will fight for her causes.


Lexi Smart
Another Kinsella heroine, this time found in Remember Me?, is Lexi Smart. She is not tall, or overly beautiful. She has teeth that stick out a little bit, works hard but never gets the bonuses she deserves, and worst of all, finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her at her dad's funeral. Basically, it's a crappy life. Probably even crappier that my own when it is 3 in the morning and my baby is poking me in the eye, wanting to play. Anyhoo... Lexi is a very sympathetic character. Then, in a twist of fate, she gets in a car crash, wakes up in the hospital and realizes that her life is completely different. Her teeth are perfect, her body is toned, she has a fab job with a gorgeous husband. But in her mind, she is still the insecure person we met in the beginning. I love Lexi. Women aren't always the fully confident people that gloss the covers of Hollywood magazines. Sometimes we feel inferior. And flawed. But Lexi shows us that no matter who we are, we can love ourselves.


Scarlett O'Hara
It's probably debateable if Gone With The Wind is a chick lit book or not. But seriously, how many men have read it? Exactly. And Scarlett may be one of my favourite anti-heroines of all time. She is so darn unlikeable! And yet you can't help but root for her. From spoiled rich girl to a tough woman who shoots a Yankee soldier, wears clothing made of drapery, and eventually runs her own business, while going through three husbands, Scarlett is not someone to overlook. Scarlett is the secret woman inside of each of us, the one who says what she wants d gets away with it. However, Melanie Wilkes may be even stronger than Scarlett, and shows elegance, grace and a very noble presence even under pressure. Between the two of them, I think we find alot of the most admirable qualities in the world.


Mikayla Rivers
I would be remiss if I didn't introduce you to Mikayla. She's a cute Canadian college girl turned world famous, super sexy popstar practically overnight. And still figuring out if she belongs in this celebrity wonderland. She has moments of self doubt, other moments of growth and clarity, and is simply trying to figure out who she is. Isn't that something that every woman (or person) has tried at some point or another? Who am I and how do I fit into this life? She's trying to get over a dirty, rotten ex-boyfriend and at the same time, navigate a new relationship with someone who would not be overly happy to find out she's a celebrity. Mikayla lives in Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It, and I love her because she is alot like me. It's easy to relate to her.

Well, these are my best girlfriends! Have you met them all yet? If not, I'd encourage you to check them out! You'll love them as much as I do! Leave your thoughts below on your fav chicklit heroines, your thoughts on the ones I've mentioned, or even the qualities you find most important for women today.

Cheers!

PS - Below are the links to the other 34 blogs on this chicklit author tour. Enjoy them!

My first interview! :)

Amy Saia, a fellow author, whose debut novel THE SOUL SEEKERS is coming out in a few months, has asked me a number of interview questions, which I am thrilled to answer. So fun! I can't wait to read her book as well, and will keep you all posted as to when it comes out.

Here goes my very first author interview!

Picture me, wearing something dashing, expensive and gorgeous, like Mary Higgins Clark always wears in her promotional pictures. We'll say I'm in Prada jeans, a black, shimmery top, have a thin diamond necklace on, and my hair is sleek and blonde, like Jennifer Aniston. You can be sure that I'm not wearing a bathrobe, with a baby in my lap and my too-reddish hair thrown back in a messy ponytail. Absolutely not.... cough....

Your debut novel was just released. What is Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It all about?
Basically, my novel is a modern Notting Hill, told from the celebrity point of view. Instead of following the struggles of the commoner, dating the celebrity, we follow the celebrity, worried about the commoner. Mikayla is a cute Canadian college girl who, almost overnight, becomes a celebrity with almost as many screaming fans as Justin Beiber. She is thrown into the Hollywood scene and is struggling with life. She misses who she was, worries about what she is becoming, and has to deal with a cheating ex-boyfriend who she can't get over, a psychotic manager and the simple fact that she is homesick. Then she meets Jordan, the man of her dreams with just one slight problem. He doesn't know she's famous. And he wouldn't be too thrilled if he knew the truth, so she keeps it a secret.

Tanned is a fun read, perfect for a beach read or just to keep you sane on the commute to work. :) (For your own copy, you can find it on Amazon, among other places)

Tell me about your daily writing schedule. Is it hectic, or a happy place to retreat?
Writing is a place of retreat. It's just like escaping into a great book, except I get to choose how things happen. I absolutely adore writing. My daily schedule, however, is all over the place. When I was working full time, I would write in the evenings to destress. Now I'm at home with a ten week old baby, whose full time job is demanding attention. So when I write now, it's juggling him on my lap, so things are alot slower these days. I usually grab a few minutes whenever I have the time, but it's definitely sporadic now.
Your favorite part(s) of being a writer?

The best part is, as I mentioned in the above question, getting to manipulate the book the way I want it. I've read a ton of books where the girl ends up with the wrong guy (at least in my opinion). Like in the Hunger Games, for example, I much prefered Gale to Peeta. I wanted them to be together. Gale was such a man's man, so tough. And, since he had dark hair, I pictured him looking like my husband. When Katniss picked Peeta, I wanted it to change. So when writing my own books, I am able to make things happen the way I see it.


What was your favorite book growing up? Currently?
Growing up I devoured books. I am a very fast reader, and so I could go through several books a day. I loved Lucy Maud Montgomery (but not the Anne books, I preferred Emily of New Moon), Gordon Korman (who is absolutely hilarious), Lois Duncan (The Gift of Magic was my favourite), Caroline Cooney (with her Janie books especially), and Carolyn Keene with all the Nancy Drew books.

If I had to pick a favourite, though, my number one book would probably have been Harry Potter (which isn't one book... it's seven... but I'm sure it counts as one. Right? RIGHT?) I read them all dozens of time and still love them.

My favourite book now, though, is The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. Such a feel good book. Oh wait, I also love Gone With The Wind. Gah. I can't pick. Way too many favourites.

PS- This question made me think of George W. Bush, when asked this, replied 'The Very Hungry Caterpiller'. Ironically, the book wasn't written until he was an adult. Way to read, George. :)

On your blog you mention having lived in both Canada and America. Have you had any trouble promoting in duel markets?

It is tricky in several ways. My publisher is American, and the distributor they use is American. Therefore, several of the local bookstores up here have trouble getting the book without special orders, so we're still waiting for it to hit the Canadian shelves. Alot of people in Canada have mentioned wanting the book, but don't want to order it online, so it is definitely a problem. Then there is the American market, where my book is in stores etc, but I can't do book signings or alot of promotion because of where I live. So the majority of what I can do is online. Which, is great, because social media is so prominent these days, but I just wish I could do more. My book is one that alot of women would enjoy as a fast, fun summer read, but the hard part is getting it out there for people to hear about.


Do you have any writing quirks that you’d be embarrassed to admit to?
I'm addicted to google and wikipedia. They are my fact checkers. What time does the post office close in Kissimmee, Florida? Let's check google. How many Grammy awards did Justin Beiber win? Wikipedia will know. I'm a total addict, and I hope my university profs never find out because they would be ashamed of me. (Academia hates Wikipedia... go figure...)

I also bite my nails when I concentrate, so after a writing session, I have nothing left but nubbins. I've been trying to break the habit for years.... and I can do it until the next time I sit down to write. And then they are gone again. Sigh.


What’s your favorite indulgence?
Eating chocolate while in the bath. It sounds wrong, but it is so, so right.

Any advice for up and coming authors?
Don't get discouraged by rejection. You hear it all the time, but just keep trying. And write alot. Write every day, even if you're just writing in a blog or your journal or whatever. Write different books. I had written two books before my third book was accepted for publication. Looking back, my first two were kind of crappy, at least now I think they are. But they were the things that got me going, got me thinking and gave me practice on putting a story together, which is actually quite difficult. So just write. And write and write and never stop. :)

Thanks for reading, everyone! Have a wonderful day! xoxo

X-Men: First Class review

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with Star Wars. Then I moved on to Lord of the Rings and it became my favourite movie. I could watch them over and over. And throughout the years, I've had other movies become my obsessions... Freaky Friday, Miss Congeniality, Dodgeball, Zoolander. They were all movies I would watch over and over and never grow tired of them.

"If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball."

I now have another movie to add to that list. X-Men: First Class is awesome. I watched it in theaters with my husband, and I liked it alot. And then on Saturday night we had date night in our basement and saw it for the second time... and I still love it.

It starts out with Erik Lehnsherr (the future Magneto), in a concentration cmap in Poland in 1944. Dr. Shaw sees Erik unleash his magnetic, metal bending power when his mother is taken from him, and brings Erik to his office. He kills Erik's mother in an attempt to unleash the mutant ability further, which increases Erik's power over this gift. Meanwhile, in New York, Charles Xavier, the future Professor X, is living a much more lavish life. He meets the mutant Raven one night and invites her to live in his manor with him.

And so the story begins. We follow Erik as he hunts down the people responsible for his mother's death. And Xavier and Raven go on to university, where Xavier becomes an expert on mutation.

In 1962, the CIA agent Moira MacTaggert discovers the existence of mutants working with Shaw and the invites Professor Xavier to recruit mutants to work for the USA government. Xavier teams up with Raven, Erik and a group of young mutants. Sooner they learn that the evil Shaw has the intention of beginning a nuclear war to destroy the world and increase his power.

It is a pretty awesome movie. It has funny parts, parts that are moving and parts that are downright exciting. I loved it.

9.5/10 (they just had to throw in an F-bomb... sigh)

Great movie.